Microsoft continues to attract people to its Xbox Game Pass service. The “Netflix for video games” service now has 18 million subscribers, up from the 15 million previously reported in September. Xbox Game Pass is a subscription service that offers access to a growing selection of more than 100 Xbox games for $ 9.99 a month.
Microsoft has been promoting the Xbox Game Pass for over a year and it is clear that the company is investing heavily in its future. Bungie’s Destiny 2 title appeared on the Xbox Game Pass at the end of last year, and To control it is also available in the service for Xbox and PC.
In a conference call today, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella also revealed that Xbox Live has more than 100 million active users per month. Nadella also said that the launch of the Xbox Series X and S was the most successful in Microsoft’s history, with “the largest number of devices ever sold in a month of release”.
Microsoft also appears to be focused on studio acquisitions to reinforce the content available on the Game Pass. Acquisition of ZeniMax Media from Microsoft, the parent company of Doom and Fall Bethesda Softworks studio, is a big deal that will drive the Xbox Game Pass in the future.
There were also a variety of promotions designed to attract consumers to the Xbox Game Pass. Microsoft regularly offers the first month of the service for $ 1 and has encouraged Xbox Live Gold customers to switch to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which includes the company’s new xCloud game streaming feature. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers now also get one month of free Disney Plus, plus other benefits.
Controversially, Microsoft recently planned to increase the cost of Xbox Live Gold in a move that was widely interpreted as an effort to push people to the Xbox Game Pass. Microsoft was quick to reverse its decision, and Xbox Live Gold prices will remain the same for now. Free games will also no longer require an Xbox Live Gold subscription.